U.S. patent application number 13/992561 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-03 for workpiece separation apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to CITIZEN MACHINERY MIYANO CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Satoru Akimoto, Hiroshi Kasuya, Kyota Kotake, Takahiro Mogi, Youji Takeuchi, Umeo Tsuyusaki, Shozen Yanakawa. Invention is credited to Satoru Akimoto, Hiroshi Kasuya, Kyota Kotake, Takahiro Mogi, Youji Takeuchi, Umeo Tsuyusaki, Shozen Yanakawa.
Application Number | 20130256201 13/992561 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46244664 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130256201 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yanakawa; Shozen ; et
al. |
October 3, 2013 |
WORKPIECE SEPARATION APPARATUS
Abstract
There is provided a workpiece separation apparatus permitting to
input a mixture of workpieces and chips stably within a flow
current and to separate them accurately and efficiently. The
workpiece separation apparatus includes an input cylinder (120)
inserted within a separating container (110) and a fluid supplying
means (130) arranged so as to supply fluid to the separating
container (110) from a part lower than a lower end of the input
cylinder (120), and configured such that the fluid overflows and
flows out of the upper end of the separating container (110) due to
a flow current generated within the separating container (110) and
such that a fluid level of the fluid rises up in the input cylinder
(120) and the fluid does not flow out of the upper end of the input
cylinder (120).
Inventors: |
Yanakawa; Shozen; (Saitama,
JP) ; Kasuya; Hiroshi; (Saitama, JP) ; Kotake;
Kyota; (Saitama, JP) ; Akimoto; Satoru;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Mogi; Takahiro; (Nagano, JP)
; Takeuchi; Youji; (Saitama, JP) ; Tsuyusaki;
Umeo; (Saitama, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yanakawa; Shozen
Kasuya; Hiroshi
Kotake; Kyota
Akimoto; Satoru
Mogi; Takahiro
Takeuchi; Youji
Tsuyusaki; Umeo |
Saitama
Saitama
Saitama
Tokyo
Nagano
Saitama
Saitama |
|
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
CITIZEN MACHINERY MIYANO CO.,
LTD.
Nagano
JP
CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
46244664 |
Appl. No.: |
13/992561 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
December 13, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2011/078746 |
371 Date: |
June 7, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
209/606 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B03B 5/623 20130101;
B23Q 11/0075 20130101; B23Q 7/12 20130101; B08B 3/048 20130101;
B03B 11/00 20130101; B03B 5/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
209/606 |
International
Class: |
B03B 5/00 20060101
B03B005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 2010 |
JP |
2010-278108 |
Claims
1. A workpiece separation apparatus, comprising: a separating
container in which fluid is stored; an input cylinder configured to
input a mixture of workpieces and chips; and a fluid supplying
means configured to supply the fluid to the separating container;
characterized in that the input cylinder is disposed such that a
lower end thereof is inserted and is located within the separating
container; the fluid supplying means supplies the fluid to the
separating container from a part lower than a lower end of the
input cylinder; an upper end of the input cylinder projects above
an upper end of the separating container; and the separating
container and the input cylinder are arranged such that the fluid
overflows and flows out of the upper end of the separating
container by a flow current generated within the separating
container from a lower part to an upper part thereof and such that
the fluid within the input cylinder does not flow out of the upper
end thereof.
2-11. (canceled)
12. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 1,
characterized in that the input cylinder is disposed such that a
center line of the input cylinder is aligned with a center line of
the separating container.
13. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 1,
characterized in that the input cylinder has a funnel portion whose
outer shape expands upward at the part projecting above the upper
end of the separating container.
14. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 13,
characterized in that a separating plate convexly formed toward the
upper part of the funnel portion is provided around a mixture input
opening of the funnel portion.
15. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 1,
characterized in that a plurality of fluid inflow holes for
introducing the fluid into the separating container is provided in
a vicinity of the lower end of the separating container.
16. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 1,
characterized in that a ringed slit for introducing the fluid into
the separating container is provided in a vicinity of the lower end
of the separating container.
17. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 1,
characterized in that a bottom portion of the separating container
is constructed to be removable.
18. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 1,
characterized in that an opening for discharging the separated and
sedimented workpieces or chips together with the fluid is provided
at the bottom portion of the separating container.
19. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 18,
characterized in that an inclined surface inclined so as to guide
the workpieces or chips separated from each other and sedimented to
the opening is formed on an inner circumferential surface on the
bottom side of the separating container.
20. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 1,
characterized in that an upper receiving portion for receiving the
fluid flown out of the upper end of the separating container is
disposed around the upper portion of the separating container.
21. The workpiece separation apparatus according to claim 20,
characterized in that a fluid guide portion having an inclined
surface for guiding the fluid overflowing from the upper end of the
separating container to the upper receiving portion is formed at
the upper end of the separating container.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a workpiece separation
apparatus configured to separate workpieces machined by various
machine tools from chips produced in machining the workpieces.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Because size of minute workpieces, e.g., parts of a watch,
machined by various micromachining machine tools such as a
micromachining lathe and a milling machine is in microns, it is
difficult to take out only machined workpieces by separating from
chips such as cutting chips, and such workpieces are often taken
out of the machine tool as a mixture with chips.
[0003] While such workpieces are separated and taken out of the
mixture of the workpieces and chips by such methods of rising,
screening and separation by means of a vibration plate, it is
difficult to accurately and efficiently separate them because the
workpieces and chips are produced from the same material and have
the same specific weight and because the chips are mixed with
various shapes of chips.
[0004] Therefore, it has been required to visually select them in
the end.
[0005] As a technology enabling to separate them by differences of
shapes and surface areas with respect to mass, even if their
material and specific weight are the same, there is known a
separation apparatus configured to separate chip parts plated by
barrel plating from media used in plating the parts as disclosed in
Patent Literature 1. It is then conceivable to separate the mixture
of the workpieces and chips machined by the various machine tools
by using this known separation apparatus.
[0006] This known separation apparatus includes a separating
container within which fluid is reserved, and is configured such
that a mixture of chip parts and media is input to the separating
container from above the separating container so as to sediment the
mixture. A fluid current flowing in a direction intersecting a
direction of the sedimentation is caused to collide against the
mixture on the way of the sedimentation to sediment the media to
the lower part of the separating container to recover and the chip
parts are separated from the media to recover through a bifurcating
channel provided on a side of the separating container (see Patent
Literature 1).
PRIOR ART LITERATURE
Patent Literature
[0007] [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open
No. 2007-30855 (All Pages, All Drawings)
[0008] It is necessary for the mixture to be stably input to
separate the mixture by colliding against the flow current.
[0009] Specifically, it is extremely important to stably input the
mixture of the workpieces and chips machined by various machine
tools and having the same specific weight to separate them.
[0010] However, the known separation apparatus described above
generates the flow current so as to cross the fluid reserved within
the separating container, and the mixture reaches to the flow
current crossing a direction of sedimentation after sedimenting for
a whole within the fluid in the separating container. Therefore, it
is difficult to input the mixture stably within the flow current
and hence, difficult to separate in high precision.
[0011] It is noted that it is also conceivable to input the mixture
directly into a flow current by generating the flow current from a
lower part to an upper part of the separating container and by
overflowing the fluid from the upper end of the separating
container.
[0012] However, the fluid overflowing and discharged around the
upper end portion of the separating container is remarkably
disturbed, and the mixture is required to pass through such
disturbed layer. Then, it is difficult to input the mixture stably
into the flow current and difficult to separate in high
precision.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] A first aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problems by providing a workpiece separation apparatus including a
separating container in which fluid is stored, an input cylinder
configured to input a mixture of workpieces and chips, and a fluid
supplying means configured to supply the fluid to the separating
container, wherein the input cylinder is disposed such that a lower
end thereof is inserted and is located within the separating
container, the fluid supplying means supplies the fluid to the
separating container from a part lower than a lower end of the
input cylinder, an upper end of the input cylinder projects above
an upper end of the separating container, and the separating
container and the input cylinder are arranged such that the fluid
overflows and flows out of the upper end of the separating
container by a flow current generated within the separating
container from a lower part to an upper part thereof and such that
the fluid within the input cylinder does not flow out of the upper
end thereof.
[0014] A second aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problem by disposing the input cylinder such that a center line of
the input cylinder is aligned with a center line of the separating
container, in addition to the configuration of the workpiece
separation apparatus described in the first aspect.
[0015] A third aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problem by arranging such that the input cylinder has a funnel
portion whose outer shape expands upward at the part projecting
above the upper end of the separating container, in addition to the
configuration of the workpiece separation apparatus described in
the second aspect.
[0016] A fourth aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problem by providing a separating plate convexly formed toward the
upper part of the funnel portion around a mixture input opening of
the funnel portion, in addition to the configuration of the
workpiece separation apparatus described in the third aspect.
[0017] A fifth aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problem by providing a plurality of fluid inflow holes for
introducing the fluid into the separating container in a vicinity
of the lower end of the separating container, in addition to the
configuration of the workpiece separation apparatus described in
any one of the first through fourth aspects.
[0018] A sixth aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problem by providing a ringed slit for introducing the fluid into
the separating container in the vicinity of the lower end of the
separating container, in addition to the configuration of the
workpiece separation apparatus described in any one of the first
through fourth aspects.
[0019] A seventh aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problem by constructing a bottom portion of the separating
container to be removable, in addition to the configuration of the
workpiece separation apparatus described in any one of the first
through sixth aspects.
[0020] An eighth aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problem by providing an opening for discharging the separated and
sedimented workpieces or chips together with the fluid at the
bottom portion of the separating container, in addition to the
configuration of the workpiece separation apparatus described in
any one of the first through sixth aspects.
[0021] A ninth aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problem by forming an inclined surface inclined so as to guide the
workpieces or chips separated from each other and sedimented to the
opening on an inner circumferential surface on the bottom side of
the separating container, in addition to the configuration of the
workpiece separation apparatus described in the eighth aspect.
[0022] A tenth aspect of the invention solves the abovementioned
problem by disposing an upper receiving portion for receiving the
fluid flown out of the upper end of the separating container around
the upper portion of the separating container, in addition to the
configuration of the workpiece separation apparatus described in
any one of the first through ninth aspects.
[0023] An eleventh aspect of the invention solves the
abovementioned problem by forming a fluid guide portion having an
inclined surface for guiding the fluid overflowing from the upper
end of the separating container to the upper receiving portion at
the upper end of the separating container, in addition to the
configuration of the workpiece separation apparatus described in
the tenth aspect.
Advantageous Effects of the Invention
[0024] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the first
aspect of the invention, the fluid supplying means is configured to
supply the fluid to the separating container from the part lower
than the lower end of the input cylinder; a flow current from the
lower part to the upper part of the separating container is
generated. Still further, the upper end of the input cylinder
projects above the upper end of the separating container and the
lower end thereof is located within the separating container, so
that no flow current that flows out of the upper end of the input
cylinder is generated even if a fluid level of the fluid within the
input cylinder rises up due to dynamic pressure of the flow
current.
[0025] With this arrangement, the mixture of the workpieces and
chips input from the upper end of the input cylinder sediments to
the lower end of the input cylinder in which the fluid is hardly
influenced by the flow currents within the separating container and
is stable having very little flow currents. Then, the mixture can
reach a part where relatively stable flow current is generated and
can be supplied to the separating flow currents, so that it is
possible to accurately and efficiently separate the workpieces and
chips in the mixture to the upper and lower parts of the separating
container even if their specific weights are the same.
[0026] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the
second aspect of the invention, a shape of the channel of the flow
current within the separating container can be formed to be
rotational symmetrical with respect to the center line and the flow
current heading from the lower part to the upper part is dispersed
homogeneously when the flow current flows into the separating
container, i.e., around the input cylinder, so that it is possible
to accurately and efficiently separate the workpieces without
causing less disturbance of flow rate and current velocity.
[0027] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the third
aspect of the invention, an area of the upper end of the input
cylinder is widened, so that the mixture of the workpieces and
chips can be readily input from above the input cylinder.
[0028] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the
fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to improve the
performance for separating the workpieces from the chips.
[0029] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the fifth
or sixth aspect of the invention, the fluid is introduced into the
separating container homogeneously through the plurality of fluid
inflow holes provided in the vicinity of the lower end of the
separating container or through the ringed slit provided in the
vicinity of the lower end of the separating container, so that it
is possible to generate flow currents from the lower part to the
upper part stably within the separating container without
generating turbulences and eddy currents.
[0030] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the
seventh aspect of the invention, the separated, sedimented and
accumulated workpieces or the chips can be recovered simply by
removing only the bottom portion of the separating container, so
that it is not necessary to remove the whole separating container
and to facilitate the workpiece recovering works.
[0031] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the
eighth aspect of the invention, the workpieces separated from the
chips or the chips can be discharged together with the fluid, so
that it is possible to easily recover the workpieces or the chips
by readily separating the workpieces or the chips from the fluid by
using an adequate workpiece and fluid separating means such as a
basket.
[0032] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the ninth
aspect of the invention, it is possible to avoid the workpieces or
chips sedimented within the separating container from stagnating
and to guide them smoothly to the lower opening.
[0033] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the tenth
aspect of the invention, the fluid overflowing together with the
separated chips or workpieces from the upper end of the separating
container can be collected by the upper receiving portion and to
guide appropriately to the discharge portion, so that the works for
recovering the chips and workpieces can be facilitated.
[0034] According to the workpiece separation apparatus of the
eleventh aspect of the invention, the fluid flows smoothly from the
upper end of the separating container to the upper receiving
portion, so that the chips can be readily and smoothly guided to
the upper receiving portion together with the fluid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0035] FIG. 1 is a side section view of a workpiece separation
apparatus of one embodiment of the invention.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a section view taken along a line D-D in FIG.
1.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic section view explaining current flows
within the workpiece separation apparatus of the invention.
[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic section view explaining operations for
separating workpieces from chips of the workpiece separation
apparatus of the invention.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a partial section view of another embodiment of
the workpiece separation apparatus of the invention.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a partial section view of a still other embodiment
of the workpiece separation apparatus of the invention.
[0041] FIG. 7 is a partial section view of a different embodiment
of the workpiece separation apparatus of the invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, a workpiece separation apparatus 100 of
one embodiment of the invention includes a separating container
110, an input cylinder 120 having a cylindrical portion 121 whose
diameter is smaller than an inner circumference of the separating
container 110 and a funnel portion 122 that expands upward, a fluid
supplying means 130 configured to supply fluid from a lower part of
the separating container 110, and an upper receiving portion 140
for receiving the fluid flown out of an upper end of the separating
container 110.
[0043] The separating container 110 includes a tubular portion 111
and a bottom portion 112 removably constructed at a lower end
portion of the tubular portion 111 (through the intermediary of the
fluid supplying means 130 as described later in the present
embodiment)
[0044] A plurality of fluid inflow ports 113 is dispersed in
vertical and circumferential directions at a lower part of the
tubular portion 111. It is noted that the fluid inflow ports 113
are disposed substantially homogeneously across the whole outer
circumference of the tubular portion 111.
[0045] The cylindrical portion 121 is inserted into an inner
circumferential side of the upper part of the tubular portion ill
such that their center lines are aligned with each other, and the
upper receiving portion 140 is disposed around an outer
circumference of the tubular portion 111.
[0046] Thereby, a gap between an outer circumferential surface of
the cylindrical portion 121 of the input cylinder 120 and an inner
circumferential surface of the separating container 110 is
substantially equalized.
[0047] It is noted that a cross-sectional shape of the tubular
portion 111 of the separating container 110 and the cylindrical
portion 121 of the input cylinder 120 may be any shape, e.g.,
polygonal and elliptical shapes.
[0048] The upper receiving portion 140 is fixed to the separating
container 110 by fitting a container fixing member 143 provided at
a center of the upper receiving portion 140 around the tubular
portion 111 of the separating container 110. The upper receiving
portion 140 is also provided with a fluid discharge port 142.
[0049] The container fixing member 143 is provided with a fixing
member 141 for fixedly supporting the input cylinder 120.
[0050] The input cylinder 120 is supported such that a lower end of
the cylindrical portion 121 is located above the fluid inflow ports
113 described above and such that an upper end of the funnel
portion 122 is located above an upper end portion of the tubular
portion 111.
[0051] It is noted that the structures for fixing the upper
receiving portion 140 to the tubular portion 111 and for fixing the
input cylinder 120 to the upper receiving portion 140 are not
limited to those of the embodiment described above, and may be any
structure.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fluid supplying means 130 is
composed of a supply cylinder 131 fittingly fixed so as to face the
fluid inflow ports 113 at the lower part of the tubular portion
111, a fluid reservoir 132 formed between the supply cylinder 131
and the tubular portion 111, and a supply port 133 configured to
supply the fluid to the fluid reservoir 132.
[0053] The fluid reservoir 132 is formed of a large hole formed
within the supply cylinder 131. Parts where the supply cylinder 131
fits with the tubular portion 111 are kept to be fluid-tight by
seals 134. The fluid supplied from the supply port 131 to the fluid
reservoir 132 flows homogeneously into the tubular portion 111
through the fluid inflow ports 113.
[0054] In the present embodiment, the supply cylinder 131 is
constructed so as to cover a lower end outer circumferential
portion of the tubular portion 111, and the bottom portion 112 is
removably and fittingly fixed to a lower end portion of the supply
cylinder 131.
[0055] Parts where the lower end portion of the supply cylinder 131
fits with the bottom portion 112 are kept to be fluid-tight by
seals 135.
[0056] It is noted that the structure of the fluid supplying means
130 is not limited to that of the embodiment described above. For
instance, the supply cylinder may be configured such that the
bottom portion of the separating container is directly and
removably attachable to the tubular portion. The fluid may be
supplied to the tubular portion by configuring the supply port as
fluid inflow ports of the tubular portion without providing the
supply cylinder and the fluid reservoir.
[0057] Still further, the fluid to be supplied may be any kind of
fluid such as water, oil, an aqueous solution, and oils and fats in
which another component is dissolved or mixed depending on such
conditions as objects to be separated and an environment where the
apparatus is installed. The fluid may also have any viscosity,
specific weight, chemical and electrical characteristics and
others, which may be appropriately selectable.
[0058] Next, flows of the fluid in the workpiece separation
apparatus 100 and operations for separating workpieces from chips
according one embodiment of the invention will be explained.
[0059] As schematically shown by arrows in FIG. 3, the fluid
supplied from the fluid supplying means 130 substantially
homogeneously and circumferentially through the fluid inflow ports
113 forms fluid currents substantially homogeneously from the lower
part to the upper part of the tubular portion 111, flows out of the
upper end portion of the tubular portion 111, and is discharged out
of the discharge port 142 of the upper receiving portion 140.
[0060] Fluid A in a section LA from the upper part of the fluid
inflow holes 113 to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 121 of
the input cylinder 120 is a homogeneous flow current flowing from
the lower part to the upper part of the tubular portion 111.
[0061] Fluid B from a section LB from the lower end of the
cylindrical portion 121 to the upper end of the tubular portion 111
is also a homogeneous flow current flowing from the lower part to
the upper part of the tubular portion 111.
[0062] Current velocity of the fluid B of this section LB is faster
than that of the section LA because a cross-sectional area of the
channel of this section LB is smaller than that of the section LA.
The current velocity of the fluid A in the section LA and the
current velocity of the fluid B in the section LB are both set by
controlling a quantity of the fluid supplied from the fluid
supplying means 130 such that only the workpieces sediment and such
that only the chips are flown upward.
[0063] It is noted that the current velocity may be equalized by
equalizing the cross-sectional areas of the channels of the fluid A
in the section LA and the fluid B in the section LA by reducing an
inner diameter of the section LA of the tubular portion ill of the
separating container 110 and by increasing an inner diameter of the
section LB.
[0064] Meanwhile, a fluid C within the input cylinder 120 is kept
still and causes no current that flows out of the upper part of the
input cylinder 120 by dynamic pressure caused by the flow current
of the fluid A in the section LA in a condition in which a fluid
level is higher than the upper end of the tubular portion 111 by
height h corresponding to the dynamic pressure in a state in which
the mixture of the workpieces W and the chips K is not input.
[0065] When only the mixture of the workpieces W and the chips K is
input from the state in which the fluid C within the input cylinder
120 is kept still as described above, the fluid C within the input
cylinder 120 is stabilized substantially in the resting state, and
the workpieces W and the chips K in the mixture slowly change their
postures and sediment dispersedly due to resistance of the fluid C
substantially in the resting state.
[0066] When the mixture of the workpieces W and the chips K is
input to the input cylinder 120 intermittently together with
cutting fluid by a discharge mechanism or the like built in a
machine tool, a fluid level of the fluid C rises by the cutting
fluid when the mixture is input. Then, corresponding to an input
amount of the cutting fluid, the fluid C within the input cylinder
120 generates a current from the upper part to the lower part of
the input cylinder 120 for a predetermined time after the input,
current velocity of the fluid B of the section LB increases, and
after that, the fluid C within the input cylinder 120 is stabilized
in a resting state.
[0067] When the mixture is input continuously, the fluid level of
the fluid C always rises more than the fluid level of the fluid C
in the resting state corresponding to an input amount of the
cutting fluid, a current from the upper part to the lower part is
generated, and current velocity of the fluid B in the section LB
increases.
[0068] In this case, the workpieces W and the chips K in the
mixture slowly change their postures and sediment dispersedly due
to resistance of the fluid C substantially in the resting state by
assuring a certain length of a section LC from an upper end surface
of the fluid C within the input cylinder 120 to the lower end of
the input cylinder 120 and by increasing a capacity of the input
cylinder 120 by a certain degree. The increase of the current
velocity of the fluid B in the section LB may be set within a range
that does not affect the separating performance.
[0069] That is, even when the mixture is input continuously
together with the cutting fluid, the length of the cylindrical
portion 121 is set such that the workpieces W and the chips K in
the mixture slowly change their postures and sediment dispersedly
within the fluid C in the section LC. The position of the upper end
of the input cylinder 120 is also set such that the fluid does not
flow out of the upper part of the input cylinder 120 even when any
kind of mixture is input.
[0070] When the mixture of the workpieces W and the chips K is
input to the input cylinder 120 of the workpiece separation
apparatus 100 configured as described above, the workpieces W and
the chips K slowly change their postures and sediment dispersedly
within the fluid C in the input cylinder 120, and reach from the
lower end of the input cylinder 120 to the fluid A in the section
LA.
[0071] Because the current velocity of the fluid A in the section
LA is set in advance such that only workpieces sediment and only
the chips are flown upward, the workpieces W sediment against the
flow current even when the workpieces W reach the fluid A in the
section LA of the tubular portion 111 and are accumulated on the
bottom portion 112.
[0072] The chips K are flown upward by the flow currents of the
fluid A in the section LA and the fluid B in the section LB,
overflow from the upper end of the tubular portion ill together
with the fluid, and flow out in a direction of the discharge port
142 of the upper receiving portion 140.
[0073] The separated workpieces W can be recovered by stopping the
input of the mixture of the workpieces W and the chips K and the
supply of the fluid from the fluid supplying means 130 and by
removing the bottom portion 112.
[0074] The separated chips K can be recovered by an adequate method
by installing a mesh finer than the chips K at an appropriate
position within the upper receiving portion 140 or the discharge
port 142 or downstream the discharge port 142.
[0075] It is noted that the fluid A in the section LA around the
lower end of the input cylinder 120 generates turbulences more or
less, flowing the workpieces W in the direction of the section LB
or flowing the chips K downward to the section LA.
[0076] There is also a case when the workpieces W and the chips K
are flown together in contact with each other and sediment together
for a while within the flow currents.
[0077] Still further, when the downward current is generated in the
fluid C as described above, there is a case when the mixture is
input to the section LA together with the downward flow current
whose current velocity is relatively fast.
[0078] However, it is possible to reliably separate them by
suppressing the workpieces W from reaching the upper end of the
tubular portion 111 or the chips K from reaching the bottom portion
112 by assuring a section not affected by the turbulences or by
assuring a distance by which the workpieces W and the chips K are
separated by the flow currents. Specifically, the length of the
section LA is set to be sufficient for separating the workpieces W
from the chips K during when the mixture sediments in the section
LA.
[0079] While the case of separating the workpieces W from the chips
K by sedimenting the workpieces W at the lower part of the
separating container 110 and rising up the chips K to the upper
part of the separating container 110 in the embodiment described
above, it is possible to rise up the workpieces W to the upper part
of the separating container 110 and to sediment the chips K to the
lower part of the separating container 110 depending on shapes,
material and others of the workpiece w.
[0080] Still further, as shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to
separate two cylindrical members 137a and 137b in the vertical
direction and to form a tubular portion 138 by integrally fixing
the supply cylinder 131. That is, it is possible to form a ringed
slit 136 in the whole circumferential direction by a gap between
the both cylindrical members 137a and 137b and to introduce the
fluid into the separating container 110 through the slit 136. The
fluid flows into the tubular portion 138 homogeneously from the
slit 136, so that it is possible to form flow currents
substantially homogeneously from the lower part to the upper part
of the tubular portion 111 and to stably separate the workpieces W
from the chips K. Still further, it is possible to control a flow
rate of the fluid introduced into the separating container 110 and
to control current velocity of the fluid by adjusting a width of
the slit 136.
[0081] Next, a modified example of the configuration around the
fluid supplying means 130 will be explained with reference to FIG.
6.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 6, the separating container 110 is
constructed by integrally fixing a cylindrical supply cylinder 131A
to a lower end portion of a tubular portion 138A in this modified
example. The fluid supplying means 130 has the supply cylinder 131A
and the fluid reservoir 132, i.e., a space within the cylinder of
the supply cylinder 131A, and the lower end of the tubular portion
138A is disposed within the fluid reservoir 132. An opening 131H
that discharges fluid E out of the fluid reservoir 132 is formed at
a lower part (bottom) of the supply cylinder 131A.
[0083] With this arrangement, the fluid supplied from the supply
port 133 provided in the supply cylinder 131A to the fluid
reservoir 132 is supplied to the tubular portion 138A from the
lower end of the tubular portion 138A, so that a flow current from
the lower part to the upper part is generated within the tubular
portion 138A and the workpieces W separated from the chips K are
discharged out of the opening 131H together with the fluid E. The
opening 131H is set such the fluid E is discharged with less flow
rate than that forming the flow current within the tubular portion
138A. Thereby, it is possible to readily separate the fluid E and
the workpieces W by causing the fluid E to flow an appropriate
workpiece and fluid separating means such as a meshed basket.
Thereby, the workpieces W can be readily separated and
recovered.
[0084] Still further, an inclined surface 131S formed such that an
inner diameter of the supply cylinder 131A is reduced downward is
formed at part of the supply cylinder 131A lower than the lower end
of the tubular portion 138A among inner wall surfaces of the supply
cylinder 131A.
[0085] The inclined surface 131S guides the workpieces W
sedimenting within the separating container 110 toward the opening
131H and permits to avoid the workpieces W from stagnating on the
bottom side of the separating container 110.
[0086] Next, a modified example of the configuration around the
upper receiving portion 140 will be explained with reference to
FIG. 7.
[0087] As shown in FIG. 7, a separating plate150 convexly formed
toward the upper part of the funnel portion 122 is provided around
the mixture input opening of the funnel portion 122. Therefore, the
mixture of the workpieces W and the chips K can be input by hitting
against the separating plate 150, so that it is possible to prevent
the mixture of the workpieces W and the chips K from being input in
a lump to the center of the funnel portion 122. Accordingly, it is
possible to disperse the mixture of the workpieces W and the chips
K around the outer circumferential side of the funnel portion 122
and to improve the performance for separating the workpieces W and
the chips K in the mixture.
[0088] Still further, because a fluid guide portion 160 having an
inclined surface 161S that guides the fluid F overflowing from the
upper end of the separating container 110, i.e., from the upper end
of the tubular portion 111, to the upper receiving portion 140 is
formed at the upper end of the separating container 110, the fluid
F flows smoothly from the upper end of the separating container 110
to the upper receiving portion 140 and it becomes easy to guide the
chips K together with the fluid F smoothly to the upper receiving
portion 140.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0089] 100 Workpiece separation apparatus [0090] 110 Separating
container [0091] 111 Tubular portion [0092] 112 Bottom portion
[0093] 113 Fluid inflow port [0094] 120 Input cylinder [0095] 121
Cylindrical portion [0096] 122 Funnel portion [0097] 130 Fluid
supplying means [0098] 131 Supply cylinder [0099] 132 Fluid pool
[0100] 133 Supply port [0101] 134 Seal [0102] 135 Seal [0103] 136
Slit [0104] 137 Cylindrical member [0105] 140 Upper receiving
portion [0106] 141 Fixing member [0107] 142 Discharge port [0108]
143 Container fitting member [0109] 150 Separation plate [0110] 160
Fluid guide portion
* * * * *